Giants cut former Rutgers standouts Joe Martinek, Brandon Bing

EAST RUTHERFORD — Joe Martinek’s chances of making the Giants’ 53-man regular-season roster this season were slim at best.

The former Rutgers standout and New Jersey’s all-time leading high school rusher found himself challenging veterans Ahmad Bradshaw, D.J. Ware, No.1 draft pick David Wilson and last year’s backup Da’Rel Scott for a job in the backfield.

Monday what was expected for Martinek came true when he was among 15 players the Giants cut from their roster to meet the 4 p.m. NFL-required limit of 75 players.

Also released with Martinek was cornerback Brandon Bing, another former Scarlet Knight who was on the Giants’ practice squad in 2011.

Veterans Travis Beckum, a tight end, and Chris Canty, a defensive tackle, were put on the PUP List (physically unable to perform) because of injuries that prevented them from getting on the field this preseason.

Also released were offensive lineman Brandon Mosley, who was the second of the two fourth-round draft choices Big Blue made this year. He was placed on season-ending injured reserve with an ankle injury suffered in the Jets game two weeks ago.

Veteran cornerback Antwaun Molden, signed on April 16 as a free agent after playing with New England last year, was released .

Also waived were 11 players, three who had previous NFL experience — tight end Ryan Purvis, defensive tackle Carlton Powell and defensive back Chris Horton.

Martinek, who put his name in the New Jersey high school record book with 7,509 yards at Hopatcong High, was being worked at running back, fullback and on special teams this preseason. He caught a seven-yard pass Friday in the loss to Chicago and the week before turned a short pass from David Carr into the only touchdown the Giants got in their win over the Jets.

He was Carr’s safety-valve receiver on the play, caught a ball in the left flat, broke two tackles and leaped into the end zone, landing on his helmet.

After the Bears game, Carr had special praise for Martinek.

“He comes to work every day and he never complains about anything,” said the backup QB. “Some guys complain during camp, but Joe’s never that way. He’s in early, works hard, and is everything you could ask for. And he’s reliable.”

Martinek could end up on the Giants’ eight-man practice squad that will be announced next week, or he could get a second chance at an NFL career if signed by Tampa Bay where his former Rutgers coach Greg Schiano is trying to rebuild the Bucs.

Canty and Beckum have not recovered from off-season knee surgery, but being placed on PUP does not mark the end of their Giants careers.

They will miss at least the first six games of the season but could return later. The earliest they can be activated is the day after the sixth regular season game (Oct. 16). From Oct. 16 up until the day after the ninth regular season weekend (Nov. 6) players on reserve/PUP may begin a 21-day practice period before a decision has to be made whether to activate, terminate or keep them on the reserve/PUP list.

The Giants, who play their fourth and final preseason game here Wednesday at 7 p.m. against New England in a rematch of Super Bowl XLVI, must reach the NFL required regular-season roster limit of 53 players by 9 p.m. Friday.